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(No Model.)

(1. J. VAN DEPOELE, Deod. C. A. Comm & A. WAHL, Executors. SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING GURRENTS T0 REOIPROUATING ELECTRIC ENGINES.

No. 479,963. W' Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN; C. A. COFFIN AND ALBERT \VAIIL, EXECUTORS OF SAID VAN DEIOELE, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS.

SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING CURRENTS TO RECIPROCATING ELECTRIC ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,963, dated August 2, 1892.

Application filed April 11, 1891. Serial No.388,565. (No model.)

To a-ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Supplying Currents to Reciprocating Electric Engines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in reciprocating electric engine systems.

Inapriorapplication,SerialNo.376,610,filed January 3, 1891, I have shown, described, and claimed a reciprocating electric engine operated by a plurality of motor-coils, one set of which is energized by current constant in direction, but pulsating or rising and falling in quality, the other set of said coils beingactuated by current rising and falling in quality and also alternating in direction. Such an engine therefore comprises two distinct elements, each embodying adistinguishing feature-that is to say, one element being a coil or coils through which an alternating current is sent, while the other element comprises a coil or coils energized by currents constant in direction but pulsating in qualitythe object being to utilize the currents of constant direction for magnetizing the plunger and the other iron parts of the 1nachine,while the coil or coils energized by the alternating currents operate to react upon the constant polarity of the iron parts. As set forth in my said prior application, this may be accomplished in a number of ways, specifically as set forth in my said prior patent, dated No. 422,855, March at, 1890. The patent referred to, however, mentions an auxiliary brush or brushes moved upon the commutator toward and away fromthemain stationarycommutator-brushes.

By my present invention I am enabled to entirely dispense with moving parts upon the commutator, substituting therefor additional contact-surfaces, which are provided with insulated portions and from which current is collected by stationary brushes in a simple and efficient manner.

A form of the invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings; but it will be understood that the construction of the generator or source of current may be varied as well as the construction of the reciprocating engine without in any way departing from the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the source of current embodying the invention, together with a working circuit and two reciprocating engines connected therewith. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a dynamo-electric machine embodying the invention, parts thereof being in section. A reciprocating electric engine is also indicated diagrammatically in this ligure.

In said drawings, A is an armature wound with suitable coils.

B C are the field-magnet poles, between which the armature revolves or is rotated.

a is the armatureshaft, upon which are mounted contact-surfaces D E F G, each provided with acollector-brush (Z c f g. For the purposes of the present invention the rings D E are continuous, while the rings F Gare composed half of metallic and half of insulating material. As shown, the coils of the armature A are divided into two by cross connections a a The conductors a a are 0011- nected, respectively, as follows: conductor a with ring E and the metallic portion of the contact-surface G and the conductor a with ring D and the metallic portion of the contact-surface F. The armature A is inclosed within a suitable field of force B C, which may be, as seen in Fig. 2, provided with exterior pole-pieces II and interior pole-pieces I, the arrangement and construction of the field-magnet poles being, however, a matter of choice. lVorking conductors 1 2 3 at extend, respectively, from the contactbrushes (Z efg. In Fig.1 a pair of reciprocating elec tric engines are indicated diagrammatically at J K, the said engines being similar and each comprising three motor-coils L M N. As arranged, the coils L N are in series between conductors l and 4, and therefore will be energized by currents of alternating direction emanating from contact-rings D E, said currents rising and falling in synchronism with the rotation of the armature A and having a frequency depending wholly upon the speed of rotation of said armature. The middle coil M has one of its terminals connected with conductor 2, which conductor is connected with brush f, and it has its other end connected by conductor m with conductor 1, so that, assuming that the current is of alternating direction in conductors 1 and 4t and of constant direction, but pulsating or intermittent in character in conductors 2 and 3, the end coils L and Nwill be energized by rising and falling alternating currents, while the middle coil M will receive every phase of current of like direction. In other words, it will receive one impulse during each rotation of the armature A. This Will of course cause an intermittent-orfluctuating polarityin the iron parts affected by said coil; but the fluctuations will merely be in the strength of polarization, the poles established and maintained by said coil being always in the said direction and therefore being always ready to be reacted upon by the changing current in the coils L and N, the only fluctuations being in the effect of the reaction upon the moving plunger.

As indicated in dotted lines, a plunger P, of magnetic material, is adapted to be reciprocated within the coils comprising the engines J K. The plunger P is magnetized by the pulsating coil M, and although its magnetization is subject to rise and fall, still it will always be in the same sense and the said plunger will be reacted upon by the alternatecurrent coils with greater or less effect, according to the strength of the poles main- .tained in the plunger by the said pulsatingcurrent coil. Of course it will be understood that the positions of these coils with respect to each other may be varied, it being only essential that there be a coil or coils arranged to magnetize the plunger and the other magnetic portions of the machine and a coil or coils energized by currents alternating in direction, and therefore adapted to attract said plunger first in one direction and then in the other.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the coils L N are in series between conductors 1 and 4, said conductors being connected with the alternatingcurrent collector-brushes d e, the remaining coil M being in multiple are between conductors 1 and 2. Conductor 2 is connected with the brush g, and having a suitable return through conductor 1 and brush (1 every other phase of current will pass through said coil, which, being constant in direction, will serve to continuously magnetize the plunger and to keep up the magnetism of the magnetic system of the machine. As indicated in said Fig. 1, the coil M of engine K is connected at one end with the conductor 1, but at its other end is connected with conductor 3, so that it will receive the current phases which do not flow through the coil M of engine J. With this construction an economical, simple, durable, and highly-efficient machine is produced, in which insulated surfaces and the requisite number of brushes are substituted for the moving brush or brushes referred to in my said other applications and prior patent.

This arrangement therefore possesses the advantage of dispensing with all moving parts;

but on the other hand the electric engine must operate in synchronisrn with the rotation of the armature A, which of course must therefore be specially designed to produce the desired results. By suitably connecting the terminals of the field-magnet coilsas, for example, as indicated in Fig. 2, where one terminal of the field-magnet circuit is connected to the brush e and the other to the brush g-a pulsating current of constant direction will pass through the field-magnet circuit, thus making the machine self-excitlng.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the herein-described apparatus in view of the principles set forth without departing from the invention.

Certain features of construction not heroin claimed will form the subject-matter for a separate application for Letters Patent.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A system of generating and distributing electric currents, comprising an armature rotating within a field of force and having a' suitable winding provided with terminals connected to two continuous rings and also to two discontinuous rings, a working circuit connected with and supplied by the continuous rings with current of alternating direction, and a separate circuit connected with and supplied by the discontinuous rings with current of continuous direction, and a motor coil or coils connected separately in each circuit and supplied thereby with currents of different character.

2. A system of generating and distributing electric currents, comprising an armature having a suitable winding terminating in two terminals, each of which is connected both to a continuous ring and to a ring forming part of a circle, a reciprocating electric engine having motor-coils energized by currents of different character, connections betweenth'e continuous ring and part of the motor-coils, and connections between the discontinuous ring or rings and the remainder of the motorcoils, whereby currents of different character are supplied to the separate sets of motorcoils.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN J ANNUS, FRANKLAND J ANNUS. 

